The name Nakhle is synonymous with residential property development in South Auckland but over the past five decades the Lebanese migrant family has also built up a diverse portfolio of interests ranging from quarrying to early childhood education and thoroughbred horse breeding.
When Elias Nakhle arrived from Lebanon in 1969 he initially worked in a factory to learn English before becoming a builder’s labourer. Having worked day and night to build his own home in Manurewa, Nakhle then formed a building company and set about constructing hundreds of spec houses.
Fast forward almost 50 years and the family is still developing residential property on a grand scale. Its biggest project has been ‘The Gardens’ estate adjacent to the Auckland Botanic Gardens where hundreds of building sites have been subdivided and sold over the past two decades. The final allotment of 50 elevated sections, known as Stage 14, are being marketed for executive -style living in a “suburban paradise” for upward of $750,000, which values the 5ha site at $37.5 million.
Inducted into the Manukau Business Hall of Fame in 2007, Nakhle told the local newspaper that businesspeople have to work hard, concentrate and be honest. “Save your money so you can stand on your feet and after that, when you run a business, money makes money with good management. But do what you love to do, also.”
Now aged 83, Nakhle senior has left the running of most family companies to his son Daniel (pictured with his wife Sybelle) who graduated from the University of Auckland with commerce and law degrees. In 2016 Nakhle junior was heading projects that allowed for almost 1000 new sections, including the Clarks Beach Waterfront Estate ≠ a 50ha property with a rateable value of $31m – where the first of 120 sites are being sold for $379,000-730,000.
Another major development on the books is a 50/50 joint venture housing estate on the Papakura-Clevedon Rd where the 86 sites on offer could theoretically fetch around $33m. Waiting in the wings for development is 15ha of vacant industrial land near Auckland Airport with a rateable value of $39m.
In addition to property development, the Nakhles own the popular Volare Italian restaurant at The Gardens and they also operate three early childhood education centres in the area, with four others under consideration. However, their most established business is Nu-Style Aluminium Windows & Doors in Papakura, which was acquired in 1980 and has offered jobs to Lebanese people escaping from their war-torn country.
The family also has a passion for breeding and racing thoroughbreds and has developed Byerley Park at Karaka, a state-of-the art 77ha complex that provides a variety of training facilities. The $8m property is jointly owned by Elias and Daniel, who is a long-serving director of the Auckland Racing Club.
Over the years the Nakhles have given back to their community, gifting land for South Auckland’s Totara Hospice and building The Gardens community hall. Appointed as Lebanon’s first honorary consul to New Zealand in late 2017, family matriarch Henriette Nakhle was recognised with a Queen’s Service Medal for community service in 2006 and told the Manukau Courier “we’re here to help people and we want nothing in return – as long as we make an impact where we live.”